The handsome man, Bai Chan, forced himself to endure the weakness from his body’s reconstruction. Turning into a dim white light, he flew southeast toward a hidden valley.
Under the moonlight, his figure no longer carried the graceful, immortal aura of before, but instead looked somewhat panicked and disheveled.
Passing through layers of primeval forest shrouded in eerie mist, and skimming over swamps that radiated dangerous auras, he finally reached his destination.
The valley entrance was concealed by thick vines and oddly shaped stalagmites. Without knowing the path, one would never discover it.
Bai Chan chanted an obscure incantation under his breath. At his fingertip, he barely managed to gather a faint glow of light, which he pressed into the air.
Ripples spread outward. The vines and stalagmites twisted like illusions and vanished, revealing a narrow cave entrance that could admit only a single person.
The cave was deep. On both sides of the passage, strange gemstones embedded in the stone walls gave off a gentle white radiance, illuminating the way ahead.
The tunnel sloped downward, winding deep into the mountain’s belly.
After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the passage suddenly opened up.
A vast underground chamber appeared before him. At its center stood a complex teleportation array, carved from a single massive block of white jade.
The ancient formation lines shimmered faintly with spiritual light.
Bai Chan staggered onto the array and channeled the last vestiges of his spiritual power into its core.
With a soft hum, a flash of white light enveloped him—and in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.
After a brief sensation of spatial distortion, Bai Chan emerged in a completely different world.
This place seemed to be the very heart of Penglai Island, cut off from the outside world by immense power—a hidden paradise.
The sky was pure azure, with a few soft clouds drifting by. The sun was warm and gentle, in stark contrast to the treacherous and eerie regions outside.
Everywhere were lush grasses and flowing spiritual springs. Exotic flowers bloomed in riotous colors, while rare beasts and birds wandered leisurely.
The air was so rich with spiritual energy that even a single breath invigorated the spirit.
At the center of this paradise towered a majestic, resplendent palace.
The palace was built entirely of smooth white jade and golden crystal, with sweeping eaves, carved beams, and intricate decorations, gleaming with soft yet commanding brilliance.
Immortal mist coiled around its surroundings, and faint strains of celestial music drifted from within.
Bai Chan’s face grew even paler. Straightening his wrinkled and bloodstained white robe, he took a deep breath and walked toward the great doors.
The palace gate was not guarded by soldiers, but by two armored jade puppets with glowing, intelligent eyes. When they saw Bai Chan, their crimson gaze flickered, but they did not hinder him.
Passing through the grand front hall, a wave of boisterous, decadent sound assaulted his ears.
The scene before him stood in stark contrast to the immortal aura outside.
Inside the great hall, extravagance reigned supreme.
The floor was paved with spiritual jade, and the walls glittered with luminous pearls and coral trees. Most striking of all was the massive “Wine Pool and Forest of Flesh” at the hall’s center.
The pool was not filled with water, but with an amber-colored immortal wine, thick with fragrance and spiritual energy. At its edges grew peculiar trees that bore not fruit, but slices of roasted spirit-beast meat, each piece releasing a mouthwatering aroma—the so-called “Forest of Flesh.”
Dozens of men and women, clad in thin gauze, beautiful and alluring, frolicked within the wine pool. Some leaned against the meat-bearing trees, eating delicacies, indulging in unrestrained pleasure and revelry.
Laughter, wanton music, and indulgent cries filled the hall.
At the center of these revelers, however, four figures stood out above all.
Their presence seemed to form a separate domain, one that the other men and women dared not intrude upon, no matter their revelry.
One of them was extraordinarily tall and burly, nearly three meters in height, wearing a dark-gold patterned black battle robe. His muscles were knotted with explosive strength.
His face was rugged and striking, with sword brows and starry eyes. Yet within his gaze flickered the cold majesty of one who looked down upon all beings—as though he were the true master of this paradise.
He lounged lazily on a massive jade recliner, three or four peerless beauties surrounding him, one of them feeding a crimson spiritual fruit into his mouth.
On his left sat a man in a pink-violet robe, with delicate, feminine features and slender fingers. He idly plucked at a jade zither, its languid tones perfectly blending with the decadent atmosphere. His eyes carried a playful, mocking gleam.
On the right was a man in a blue Daoist robe, chest laid bare to reveal his strong physique. His handsome face bore a roguish smile, and in his hand he toyed with a wine cup, his sharp gaze as if piercing into men’s hearts.
The last was a woman, reclining at the feet of the towering man.
She wore a misty blue gown, her beauty so breathtaking it could topple kingdoms. Every smile, every glance held irresistible allure, yet beneath her charm was a faint trace of hidden sharpness.
These four, whether man or woman, possessed bodies of flawless perfection. The aura they exuded was as vast as the sea—far beyond that of ordinary martial experts, more akin to legendary cultivators.
When the pale, weakened Bai Chan—his breath faint and even a few strands of gray appearing at his temples—entered the great hall, the noise quieted slightly.
Many of the revelers glanced at him with curiosity or awe.
Naturally, the four at the center also noticed him.
The delicate-featured man stopped plucking his zither, chuckled lightly, and said in a mocking tone:
“Well, well—if it isn’t our esteemed ‘Gatekeeper,’ Lord Bai Chan. What’s this sorry state you’re in? Did you go for a stroll outside and trip over your own feet?” - Marinien
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